"What's the matter, boy? Getting tired? I'm just getting started!" he rushed towards me, and we clashed again. It was not just his speed but his attack speed had increased as well. I shudder to think of what my father was genuinely capable of when he wielded Inazuma. Perhaps that's why he was capable of standing toe to toe with the Demon King.
But right now, this person in front of me is not my father. Something is controlling him from inside his body. Whether he's aware of it himself, or even still alive, I do not know. What I do know is that I need to put him to rest. What a fool I was to think that my actual father was still alive after all this time. Damn Tzeetchian warp fuckery at play.
I continued to block his incoming attacks, but he was still able to somehow break through my guard from unexpected angles. His blade had altered its form when he started using Concentration, which was now much more similar to Inazuma's design with a few caveats. It is short like a kodachi, but its blunt side was strangely serrated, with the tip having an upwards curve for some reason. It will certainly be extremely painful when he pulls out his blade from your flesh, with the blunt curve pulling your insides.
"Strange choice of weaponry, whoever you are. Let's cut to the chase, who are you? I know you're not my father. What are you exactly?" I asked.
"What am I? Hmm… guess you can call me Sakana Wāmu, at your service," he smiled and bowed.
"Sakana… Wāmu? Are you fucking kidding me? Fish worm? What kind of stupid name is that?" I shouted at him as that was the most unoriginal name I had ever heard.
"Hey hey… you asked for it. I never had a name to begin with anyway," he shrugged nonchalantly.
"So why choose my father's body as the host? He's dead, right? You aren't forcing him to move against his will?" I asked him.
"Ehh… I'm not really obliged to answer that. Less talk and more action, shall we?" he shrugged.
"You will answer my questions," I spat, but he replied with a casual "Make me,"
We clashed blow for blow, blocking and parrying each other's attacks while constantly seeking for any flaw in each other's guard. The two of us were using Concentration, yet he matched my speed, which is buffed by my agility potion. If he were to start casting his spells now, he'd easily outmatch my speed, yet somehow he doesn't deem it necessary to cast his spells yet. Is this a constraint by Sakana Wāmu for using my father's body as a host? Geez, even saying his name makes me cringe with disgust.
We broke the clash and stood apart. None of us were getting anywhere when our speeds matched each other. And if he's planning to wait for my potion's duration to end, then he's sadly mistaken. We'll be out of strength in using State of Mind before then if I were to factor in Rose's agility potion that I brought along. The beauty of single-stat potions is that they have long durations.
He started chuckling, nodding to himself as though he suddenly realised something and pointed his blade towards me. I can't predict what's going on in his head, or fish brain for that matter. According to what Byakko informed me, Kirin said that his State of Mind felt—off. Even though he seems to be using Concentration, there's only a hint of familiarity to Jack's aura that he had previously known. Chances are, this fish worm is actually just "borrowing" his powers and not using them efficiently or even effectively. Even so, it's still a fact that he's able to utilise my father's speed pretty handily.
"Holding yourself back? I thought you wanted to kill me? What happened to that drive earlier before you realised that I wasn't actually your father?" he jested.
"Well, now I realised that by stalling you here, the army is able to reclaim more parts of the city. Your worms had already lost their effectiveness the moment I made it here," I shrugged. Being stuck in a battle of attrition is way more beneficial for me than it is for him. This is why you only wage war when you have allies that help you while you're busy aura farming, unless you're as powerful as the Demon King. Now I'm just hoping for more reinforcements to arrive while I keep him busy here.
"Ahh, no wonder I kept smelling burnt flesh, so it was your doing. I'll admit, pretty smart of you to actually figure out a way to kill those worms. Even I had no idea how to get rid of them," he shrugged, seemingly unbothered after learning the fact that his minions can actually die.
"What the hell is your objective? You don't seem to be particularly bothered that your minions are dying. Why are you even here?" I interrogated him.
"Look, man, I'm not really used to talking this much. Let's just say I'm here because I was ordered to. I ain't here on my own whim for sure," he sighed loudly.
"The God Of Disorder ordered you to assault this city? You must be some hotshot if he actually instructed you to do his bidding. And you're supposed to be his Champion? Doesn't even look like one. A complete weak-ass moron compared to the many other Champions I fought before," I shrugged.
"Heh… I know you're trying to get a rise out of me, but it won't work. Then again, not bad with your guesswork. I am his Champion, in the flesh," he nodded his head as he placed his hand on his chin.
"Then you certainly suck at your job. And you have the audacity to use my father's body for your shenanigans. Why not just surrender and stop all this? You clearly don't seem to be bothered about it, why continue?" I asked him.
"Hey hey… like I said, wasn't my idea. Your father's corpse happened to be at the right place, at the right time. Besides, he was perfect for the job. Can't do what I did without him, honestly speaking," he chuckled.
"I'm only going to say this one more time. Fuck off from my father's body and leave it alone," I warned him.
"And I'm going to say it again, makeme," his face turned serious as he tilted his head.
The sound of infected being scorched alive could be heard in the distance. It would seem that the scouts and soldiers had resumed their efforts after they realised that it was safe to continue. I need to calm myself down for real. Kirin was right, there's no reason for me to lose myself when it actually benefits me more just to stall him here. Either that, or I should just get rid of him. Which I'm not certain if I can since he's rather proficient in using my father's body.
He started acting weird all of a sudden, placing his hand over his ear and started mumbling to himself. Is he—doing some sort of voice call with someone or something? With his hands?! He sighed a couple of times and eventually shook his head as he dropped his hand. Let me guess, a call with his mum and he got scolded?
"Alright, playtime is over. My boss isn't exactly happy with my performance thus far. What a jerk," he said as he started chanting a spell. That spell, it sounds familiar. Visible magic particles started swirling around him and I recognised that. While I am glad that he isn't using Sacred Wings, this spell is even more troublesome due to the potency of raising all his stats. Will I be able to deal with him after he's buffed up?
"Grand Blessing~ What a waste to not have any allies nearby to benefit from this," he sighed as a translucent golden pauldron and armoured knee pads began to form on his left shoulder and on both knees.
Great, just great. Seems like the Paladin Lord didn't hesitate to share that forbidden book with my father. But he wasdestined to be the next guildmaster, so it sort of makes sense that he knew about these spells. I might have to start using Higher State of Mind since I know firsthand how powerful these forbidden Light Guild spells are.
He began inspecting his hands and fingers as though he was fascinated by using the spell. Well, of course, it doesn't belong to him anyway. Bastard is just borrowing my father's body and parading with it.
He vanished like the wind as he was inspecting himself, only for him to appear behind me in less than a heartbeat. My right arm moved on its own and blocked the incoming attack, and a familiar voice roared loudly thereafter.
"You bastard, how dare you take control of my previous host! You will not sully his legacy any further!!" roared Kirin as he took partial control of my body. It's always a strange experience when your body moves on its own, as though some strange force is moving it without your control.
Kirin's spectral form emerged from Inazuma and head-butted Sakana on his side. Kirin's spectral form doesn't have his signature horn; otherwise, it would have inflicted a much more serious wound on him. Sakana flexed his body as though he wanted to show us that the head-butt didn't affect him whatsoever. Kirin was puffing his nose, and I swore I saw steam seeping out of it. This is probably the first time I saw Kirin angry. I thought he's supposed to be a peaceful being.
"Most of the time, yes. They vow to be peaceful creatures to keep their temper at bay. However, when push comes to shove, Kirin can become enraged," spoke Byakko as Kirin's spectral form changed from blue to blood red.
"I think you should start using Bloodlust since you have two furious Celestials with you now. And you shouldn't get caught off guard by him again," continued Byakko, to which I nodded in agreement.
I closed my eyes and began thinking of my opponent, how he's sullying my father's corpse, how I thought he was a scumbag, and why Rose pushed herself till bedridden. It's all because of this asshole in front of me, and he has the nerve in wanting to kill her. I will not let that stand.
I exhaled and steam arose from within my mouth. All was familiar until I realised something was off. Steam is usually hot, right? So why does mine feel— cold? This feels very different from the previous time I used Bloodlust. Is this due to Kirin being furious? Not even John, who had been using Bloodlust for such a long time, had cold vapour instead of hot steam.
"I've released your inhibitor. A portion of your Bloodlust was under my control, which I withheld. But now that I'm pissed, that inhibitor is removed, and Byakko should have full control of Bloodlust now. Make full use of it," spoke Kirin, who seems to be withholding his fury even now.
"I knew it, no wonder something felt off! Kirin had control of Bloodlust while I only had a portion of it. Now it all makes sense. I can certainly feel more control over you now, which is similar to your mother with a tad of difference. No matter, I'll get used to it eventually," spoke Byakko telepathically.
And it's true. I feel more powerful using Bloodlust now. And it feels as though I have more control over my anger, unlike previously where I had less control over myself. I can win this; I can beat this fish worm with this.
Sakana looked weary as he continued glaring at me. He thought he had the advantage in using Grand Blessing but it was lost to him once I started using Higher State of Mind. Let's get this party started, time to show him how powerful I really am.
I exhaled once again and noticed ice crystals forming around my shoes. What the— did the temperature control get sabotaged or something? We'll freeze to death if anything were to happen to the temp control under these freezing depths.
"No one sabotaged anything. You are the one affecting the surrounding temperatures. How peculiar, your mother's Bloodlust was hot and angry, easily rallying and boosting the morale of her allies. But you… yours feels cold, freezing even. A stark contrast to your mother's, which is baffling. Might take some time for me to get used to," answered Byakko.
Kinda contradicts what Bloodlust actually is, isn't it? Being cold and all when it's supposed to get your blood pumping. If I recall what my close ones informed me before, I release a cold aura whenever I use Bloodlust but never to the extent where it starts freezing the objects around me. How do I even control this? Where's the control?! It no longer feels like anger is the trigger for using Bloodlust!
"Take it as—a silent anger. Picture Focused Meditation as a serene and calm sea where you can float endlessly, your Bloodlust is like a rough sea before the thunder rumbles where it gets your heart pumping. Keep your anger in check but release only when you need it. That's the best way I can describe your Bloodlust. Believe me, even I'm having trouble figuring out how to ride along with you," explained Byakko.
"What—is that? I have never seen anyone using that before. Is that even Bloodlust?" asked Sakana as he grew cautious about my state.
"Beats me, even I don't know what is going on with myself. But what I really want to know—is how much more powerful I am in this state now," I vanished and appeared behind him instantly, which he couldn't react in time, and I sliced his back with Tengu-kaze, which felt surprisingly lighter than usual. So many changes now that my inhibitor is removed.
"We'll ensure your slow demise before sending you to your maker. I hope you're ready," spoke Kirin as we surrounded Sakana. Never would I imagine that I'll see the day where Kirin would actually get enraged. Now this is going to be fun.